California High-Speed Rail Authority 

Fresno to Bakersfield 

Section 

Draft Supplemental 

Environmental Impact 

Report/Environmental 

Impact Statement 

Appendix 3.14-A 

Results and Findings of Land 

Evaluation and 

Site Assessment Pursuant to the 

Farmland Protection Policy Act 

November 2017
Appendix 3.14-A 

Results and Findings of Land Evaluation and 

Site Assessment Pursuant to the Farmland Protection Policy Act 

November 2017 California High-Speed Rail Authority 

Fresno to Bakersfield Section 

Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS 

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Table of Contents 

California High-Speed Rail Authority November 2017

Fresno to Bakersfield Section Page | i 

Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

APPENDIX 3.14-A RESULTS AND FINDINGS OF LAND EVALUATION AND SITE 

ASSESSMENT ........................................................................................................... 3.14-A-1

3.14-A.1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................... 3.14-A-1

3.14-A.2 LAND EVALUATION AND SITE ASSESSMENT .................................... 3.14-A-1

3.14-A.3 FARMLAND CONVERSION IMPACTS RESULTS ................................. 3.14-A-2

3.14-A.4 FINDINGS ............................................................................................... 3.14-A-2

3.14-A.5 REFERENCES ........................................................................................ 3.14-A-5

Table 

Table 3.14.A-1 Land Evaluation and Site Assessment LESA Scores by Alternative ........... 3.14-A-2

Figure 

Figure 3.14.A-1 NRCS Farmland Conversion Impact Rating for Corridor-Type Projects 

Assessment................................................................................................................. 3.14-A-3
Table of Contents 

November 2017 California High-Speed Rail Authority 

3.14-A-ii | Page Fresno to Bakersfield Section 

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Appendix 3.14-A 

Results and Findings of Land Evaluation and 

Site Assessment Pursuant to the Farmland Protection Policy Act 

California High-Speed Rail Authority November 2017

Fresno to Bakersfield Section Page | 3.14-A-1 

Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS 

APPENDIX 3.14-A: RESULTS AND FINDINGS OF LAND EVALUATION AND 

SITE ASSESSMENT 

3.14-A.1 Introduction

This memorandum summarizes the results of the farmland land evaluation and site assessment 

(LESA) for the Fresno to Bakersfield Locally Generated Alternative (F-B LGA) and the 

corresponding section of the May 2014 Project of the California High-Speed Rail (HSR) Project. 

The LESA analysis was performed in compliance with Farmland Protection Policy Act (FPPA) 

requirements. The purpose of FPPA is to minimize the extent to which federal programs 

contribute to the unnecessary and irreversible conversion of farmland to nonagricultural uses (7 

United States Code 4201). Specifically, the FPPA requires that federal agencies complete the 

following: 

 Use criteria (described in this memorandum) to identify and take into account the adverse

effects of their programs on the preservation of farmland

 Consider alternative actions, as appropriate, that could lessen adverse effects

 Ensure that their programs, to the extent practicable, are compatible with state and units of

local government and private programs and policies to protect farmland

3.14-A.2 Land Evaluation and Site Assessment 

As required by the FPPA implementing regulations (7 Code of Federal Regulations [C.F.R.] Part 

658), LESA calculations were performed using the NRCS-CPA-106 form (for corridor-type 

projects) to determine an overall farmland conversion score. Using alignment information 

provided by a Geographic Information System, the relative value of the individual corridors were 

calculated as farmland. The NRCS land evaluation calculations and the Farmland Mapping and 

Monitoring Program (FMMP) site assessment criteria are presented in Attachment 1. When land 

evaluation scores were received from NRCS, site assessment scores for the two corridors were 

calculated using the instructions provided in the FPPA Manual and guidance from NRCS (Davis 

2015, Rolfes 2015, USDA NRCS 2013, 2015). The total LESA rating for both the May 2014 

Project and the F-B LGA was determined by adding the land evaluation score (up to 100 points) 

and site assessment scores (up to 160 points). Results were compared to significance thresholds 

established in the FPPA implementing regulations. Once total LESA scores were determined, 

farmland effects were evaluated and relative suitability of sites for farmland protection was 

assessed. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends the following: 

1. Sites with the highest combined scores are to be regarded as most suitable for protection and

the sites with the lowest scores as least suitable for protection

2. Sites receiving a total score of less than 160 need not be given further consideration for

protection and no additional sites need to be evaluated

3. Sites receiving scores totaling 160 or more are to be given increasingly higher levels of

consideration for protection

4. Decisions on proposed actions for sites receiving scores totaling 160 or more should include

the following:

a. Non-farmland use or existing structure use

b. Alternative sites, locations, and designs that would serve the proposed purpose, but

would convert either fewer acres of farmland or other farmland with a lower relative value

c. Special siting requirements of the proposed project and the extent to which an alternative

site fails to satisfy the special siting requirements as well as the originally selected site
Appendix 3.14-A 

Results and Findings of Land Evaluation and 

Site Assessment Pursuant to the Farmland Protection Policy Act 

November 2017 California High-Speed Rail Authority 

3.14-A-2 | Page Fresno to Bakersfield Section 

Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS 

3.14-A.3 Farmland Conversion Impacts Results 

Land evaluation and site assessment scores, and total LESA scores are provided in Table 

3.14.A-1. Both the F-B LGA and the May 2014 Project had a total LESA score below 160, with 

the F-B LGA scoring slightly lower than the May 2014 Project. 

Table 3.14.A-1 Land Evaluation and Site Assessment LESA Scores by Alternative 

Kern County Land Evaluation Score Site Assessment Score Total LESA Score

F-B LGA 74 66 140

May 2014 Project 79 65 144

3.14-A.4 Findings 

The FPPA does not mandate that a specific decision be made by a federal agency based on 

LESA ratings, but provides suitability guidance for protection of farmland from conversion to 

nonagricultural uses. 

1. The Central Valley is primarily devoted to agricultural land uses and is dominated by soils

that are well suited for crop production. Impacts on agricultural lands in the Fresno to

Bakersfield Section of the HSR Project and specifically the F-B LGA, therefore, cannot be

completely avoided. Nevertheless, impacts have been avoided and minimized to the extent

feasible. Mitigation measures were approved in the Fresno to Bakersfield Section Final

Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) to reduce

unavoidable impacts and these would apply to the F-B LGA as well.

2. Programmatic environmental reviews have been performed previously, in coordination with

the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and other federal

and state agencies. These concluded that an HSR System connecting cities in southern

California with the Bay Area via the Central Valley would be most likely to meet legislative

mandates in the least environmentally damaging manner (Authority and FRA 2005, 2010a,

2010b). The programmatic documents established that the HSR project would most

effectively be developed in discrete sections. The Fresno to Bakersfield Section Final

EIR/EIS provides a project-level review of the alternatives, including the May 2014 Project,

previously proposed to meet the overall HSR purpose and describes in detail the need for the

Fresno to Bakersfield section. This Supplemental EIR/EIS includes a project-level review of

the F-B LGA. Recognizing the need to protect important agricultural resources to the extent

possible, the May 2014 Project evaluated in the Fresno to Bakersfield Section Final EIR/EIS

and the F-B LGA evaluated in this Supplemental EIR/EIS would follow existing road and

railway alignments to the extent feasible.

Following the completion of the decision-making process, the NRCS requested that the decisionmaking agency return a copy of the farmland conversion calculations to the NRCS for record 

keeping purposes (see Figure 3.14.A-1 below). The FRA, as the decision-making agency for the 

F-B LGA, is expected to complete the FPPA reporting process, following the posting of the

Record of Decision for the project.
Appendix 3.14-A 

Results and Findings of Land Evaluation and 

Site Assessment Pursuant to the Farmland Protection Policy Act 

California High-Speed Rail Authority November 2017

Fresno to Bakersfield Section Page | 3.14-A-3 

Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS 

Figure 3.14.A-1 NRCS Farmland Conversion Impact Rating for Corridor-Type Projects 

Assessment 

(Sheet 1 of 2) 
Appendix 3.14-A 

Results and Findings of Land Evaluation and 

Site Assessment Pursuant to the Farmland Protection Policy Act 

November 2017 California High-Speed Rail Authority 

3.14-A-4 | Page Fresno to Bakersfield Section 

Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS 

Figure 3.14.A-1 NRCS Farmland Conversion Impact Rating for Corridor-Type Projects 

Assessment 

(Sheet 2 of 2) 
Appendix 3.14-A 

Results and Findings of Land Evaluation and 

Site Assessment Pursuant to the Farmland Protection Policy Act 

California High-Speed Rail Authority November 2017

Fresno to Bakersfield Section Page | 3.14-A-5 

Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS 

3.14-A.5 References 

California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) and USDOT Federal Railroad Administration 

(FRA). 2005. Final Program Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact 

Statement (EIR/EIS) for the Proposed California High-Speed Rail Train System. Available 

at: http://www.hsr.ca.gov/Programs/Environmental_Planning/EIR_EIS/index.html. 

Sacramento, CA, and Washington DC. August 2005. 

______. 2008, Revised 2010a. Final Bay Area to Central Valley High-Speed Train (HST) 

Program Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS). 

Sacramento, CA, and Washington, DC. May 2008, 2010. 

www.hsr.ca.gov/Programs/Engironmental_Planning/index.html 

______. 2010b. Bay Area to Central Valley High-Speed Train (HST) Revised Final Program 

Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Sacramento, CA and Washington, DC. August 2010. 

www.hsr.ca.gov/Programs/Environmental_Planning/index.htm. 

Davis, Sid. 2015. Assistant State Soil Scientist, Natural Resources Conservation Service. Davis, 

CA. Email communication with Sid Davis, 2015 and 2016. 

Rolfes, Tony. 2015. State Soil Scientist, California State Office, Natural Resources Conservation 

Service. Davis, CA. Personal communication and email communication with Tony Rolfes, 

September 2015. 

United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA 

NRCS). 2013. Part 523-Farmland Protection Policy Act Manual. Washington, DC. 

______. 2015. NRCS Technical Guide, Section 1, FFPA Form AD-1006. July 2015. 
Appendix 3.14-A 

Results and Findings of Land Evaluation and 

Site Assessment Pursuant to the Farmland Protection Policy Act 

November 2017 California High-Speed Rail Authority 

3.14-A-6 | Page Fresno to Bakersfield Section 

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